Things I love about Panama:
1. Mango trees outside my house.
2. The rainy season.
3. Hammocks
4. Reliable bus systems
5. Nature everywhere
6. Spanish.
7. That indigenous cultures and Afro-Latino and Latino cultures are celebrated.
8. Avocado season.
9. Chickens running around.
10. November
11. Big hearted people
12. Being from a different culture gives me some advantages to get the benefit of the doubt
13. My counterparts are amazing.
14. My site and the people there.
15. My family in Santa Rita.
16. Exotic colorful frogs
17. Waterfalls, rivers and hot springs
18. Mountain breezes
19. Incredible coral and sea life
20. Sancocho
21. Carnival and culecos
22. Bailes
23. Pineapples
24. Santiago patronales
25. How I feel here- welcomed and peaceful.
There's so many things to love about this nation. Since writing my last post, I went to Santa Fe with my counterparts & loads of teachers from school. We sang and ate and drank and danced til like 330 am. The next day we took a Chiva to cerro tute where we climbed to the top. It was so wonderful. It was so exhausting. Getting up early after a late night is not my forte! But of course, I did it. And it was incredible. I had no idea so many teachers would be there. What a gift. It was a massive slumber party and I loved it.
I got to goto Montijo to eat seafood and have a great time with my friends from school: Nilvia y Deisy. Nilvia is one of my counterparts who has also been very generous with me.
Then I was invited to goto my counterpart's house to share in the celebration of her daughter's 18th bday. I went for a bit, but left before the youths (ha) arrived because I went to the movies with my dear pal Winnie. ❤️The next day I attended a birthday party for my counterpart's 10 year old son. It was so fun. My 3 female counterparts are just fantastic. I adore them.
Monday at school the PE teacher gave me a necklace and earring set that his wife made especially for me. He and I chatted a lot here and there but wow-that was a surprise. Tonight I went to a goodbye party with the university teachers where they gave me a massive cake with my face on it and showed a slide show of my service and gave me some little gifts and a beautiful card. These university teachers have been so crucial to my service. They helped me find my stride as a PCV.
Today is Tuesday and Friday something else is planned. In service, just like in life, it can be easy (for me) to get caught up in the "have nots" and the comparing of my experiences with others. (I can be very guilty of this!) But I must take time to acknowledge I am very lucky. I'm really trying to soak it all in- all these last moments of hammock sitting with a glass of wine and a book during a rainstorm.
Cheers to you, Panama. 🇵🇦
